Log rafting device



Sept. 29, 1931.

J. M. CHEVALIER LOG RAFTING DEVICE Filed May 1, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR John Maxim alum/4's! M. ATETORNEY Sept. 29, 1931. J. M. CllEVALIER 1,324,932

LOG RAFTING DEVICE Filed .May 1, 1929 2 Sheets-sneer. 2

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INVENTOR Jbhn Maxim CZI-Offl/IW'- BY ATTORNEY 7 coupling cables orchains 11..

Patented Sept. 29, 1931 UNITED sures J'OHNIM.YGHEVALIER, or TACOMA,WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOB OEQNE-HAH snow or SEATTLE, WA HINGTON L nar'rnvennvrcn Application filed ma 1, meg-serial a... 359,502. s the chokersadjacent to thefront end of the This invention relates to lograftingdevices and, more especially. to the manner or means forsecuringtogether saw logs and the like for towing. s r I.

The main object of the invention is the improvement in devices of thischaracter whereby logs may be rafted andtransported with greatersafetyand at less cost than hitherto.

Another object of vide log-rafting equipment whichis adapted to be usedfor successivetows, which is readily arranged into log-towingrelationand arranged to be used in a compact condition for returning theequipment for a new loadof logs.

More specific objects and advantages ofthe invention will appear in thefollowing description. V Y p The invention consists; in thenovelconstruct1on,adaptationand combination of devices hereinafter describedand claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is aperspective view illustratingthe frame of a :log' raft embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is'anendelevation of a log raft including the frame shown in Fig. 1; Fig; 3 is afragmentary; end elevation of the raft frame in course of construction;Fig. 4

.is a longitudinal vertical section taken substantially on line 4-i41ofFig. 3; Fig. 5 -is a perspective view of a side-stick clamping assembly;Fig. 6 is a perspective viewof a sidestick anchor post ,member;Fig."7 isa perspective view of a clinching clamp ;,Fig. 8:is I

:other side of the raftare secured by means of screwthreaded clampingbolts 28 and nuts 29 between chairs 30 and caps 31, said chairs bealongitudinal vertical secti'onthrough 8.,8 of Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 isa'transverse vertical section through 9,9 of Fig.8. I

In carrying out my invent'on, I provide a frame comprising two rowsofrlongitud'inally disposed logs 10, which are held in end to endrelation in the respective rows ,by means. of

The group? of l0gs"--lO,--here1nafter to be designated as aside-stickfat each side of the raft is connected together by means ofcompanion. cables .12 extending lengthwise of the respective side stickand secured'thereto by means of choker-s13 and 13 1 14 represents acable, or bridle,'secured to the invention is to pro-' baseplates 24:.

raft and to which a tow line 14 is attached.

Informing a raft, said side sticks are 'first disposed at opposite'sidesof a group, or

represented in Fig. -1.v The floorlogs are united by means of cablesdisposed in pairs,

as 16 16 extending transversely of the raft and connected at their endsto the'side sticks at oppositesides of floor logs 15.

The manner and means for releasably retaining the parts of the raftconstituting the .main features of the present'invention are illustratedin" Figs. 2 to8 inclusive.

In forming a raft, the side sticks 10 and floor logs 15 are'interwovenwith. the cables 16 andflfi "In attainingsuch interweave, theextremities of each pair of cables are secured to the respectivesidesticks; as will be presently explained, thenpassed in oppositeidirectionsfas' at 18 and 18 about said side sticks, the cable leadscrossing at 19, to pass above and below the floor logs 15 alternatelyfrom one side totheother ofltheraft frame and floor.

The ends of the: cables 16'16. 'at one side of the raft are providedwith loops such as 22 (Fig. 3) to engage overapost element 23,

Figs. 3 and 6; extending upwardly from a base plate 24 which'is rigidlysecured to one of said side sticks by. means of dowel pins 25 andcoupling bolts .26 extending into the respective'side. stickl Theends127 of: said cables 1616 at the ing. secured to the associated sidesticks by meansfor' dowel pins 25 and coupling bolts 26 asfexplainedabove with reference to said 32 represents a upon each orthe caps 31engaging in grooves 33 of the respectivechairs to preventrelative rotarymovement thereof.

The floor logs 15 secured together and to j the side sticks 10,' asabove explained, provide a frame; or cradle, within whichare depositedfiller logs .35 (Fig. 2) arranged longituditongue Fig. 5) provided nallyof the raft and forming the major part of the raft cargo. The logsdeposited in the cradle cause the latter to be progressively submergeduntil the raft is loaded.

After being thus loaded, the load is lashed to the f-rameby means ofa'plurality of transverse ropeswor cables such as .36 in Fig. 2. Eachlashing comprises a rope extending about and engaging the side sticks 10within loops 37-, said loops-being adjustable asto position and size toaccommodate the raft load; For forming said loops I provide, near eachend of a lashing, rope-clainpingde vices comprising a block 38 and a cappiece 39 between which is secured the respective rope ends, through themedium ofa screw bolt 40 and a nut 41 arranged .as shown in Figs. 7

.and 9.

Lashingof the rope to effect the wedging of the filler logsinto securedposition, is attained by attaching the ropelead. 36 to a cable extensionfrom a power drum. (not shown) retracting the bolt 40 sufficient. toloosen said lead 36 taking up the rope slack by power and. againsecuring. the bolt to clamp the rope between cap 89. and block 38.

A block38 moreover is formed intermediate its length with a recess 42toreceive the associated cap piece which, to receive. the

rope, is grooved as at 3 and 43 at opposite sides of the bolt 40.

' The block 38 is of a length to extend beyondthc cap pieceat both endsof the latter, see Figs. 7 r and 9, theprotruding'ends of the blockbeing provided with apertures 44 through which one of thecompanionleads,

, as -15, of the loopis threaded. "Theloop lead ner of its operationwill, it is'thought, be unto 45 .is desirably formed to provideoffsetting bends 46 thereto to further secure the, loop from being drawnthrough the clamping rope devices.

- The chairs 30 are formed with 30 eX- tending longitudinally of theframe and procoils .48 ofthecables 16-and 16 49 represent arms extendinglaterally of fvided with: channels 48 to receive the outer the frame andare provided near their outer ends with grooves 50 to receive. thecables 12. A raft embodying my invention is readily assembled, the partsthereof being readily which are readily disengaged and disassembledat-the destination of the raft;

Themeans for securing the raft in the assembled condition does not maror otherwise injure the logs being transported:

The construction of the embodimentofthe invention now'preferred by meand the manderstood from the foregoing specification.

WhatIclaim,is,-%

' '1; In alog raft, the combination with a framecomprising side sticks,and cables and -chokers disposed longitudinally of the raftand'oonnecting the component parts of the I respective side stickstogether, of a plurality of cables disposed transversely of the raft andconnecting the side sticks at opposite sides of the raft, and a loadreceiving cradle comprising longitudinally arranged logs disposed ininterwoven relation with said transverse cables and cooperating with thelatter toprovide a floor upon which the raft cargo is loaded, saidtransversely disposed cables being detachably connected to the sidesticks through loops provided at one end of respectivecables, said loopsbeing engageable over post's rigid with one of the side sticks, andhaving means rov-ided upon the other of said side sticks for clampingthe other end of the respective cables thereto.

2. In a log raft, thecombination with a frame comprising side sticks,and cables and chokers disposed longitudinally of the raft :andconnecting the component parts of the respective side sticks together,of a plurality of cables disposed transversely of the raft andconnecting the side sticks. at opposite sides of the raft, and a loadreceiving cradle comprising longitudinally arranged logsdisposedininterwoven relation with said transverse cables and cooperating'with thelatter to provide a floor. upon which the'raft cargo is loaded, saidtransversely disposed cables being detachably connected to the sidesticks through clamping means secured to said side sticks, said clampingmeans having integrally-secured pin elements arranged. for embeddingengagement in the logs.

3. Ina log raft, incombination, a frame comprising a cradle includinglongitudinally disposed logs and side sticks adapted to receive thecargo thereon and having transversely disposed cables-interwoven withrespect to said logs and side sticks, said cables having meanscomprising clamps rigidwith the' side sticks for retaining the cables,of transversely arranged cables adapted to be strung over the cargo andlooped about the side sticks, and means for clamping said looped cablesin adjusted relations with respect to said side sticks, said last namedmeans eing carried by said cables in a manner to retain the same on itsrespective cable subsequent to release. of therein. V 4. Ina log raft,the combination with a frame includinga cargo receiving cradle thelooped lead engaged comprising longitudinally arranged logs andsidefsticks and transversely disposed' cables interwoven with respect-tosaid logs and side sticks, of means tosecure ends'of SHJd'CflblGS tosaid side st1cks,.sa1d means comprlsing clamps rigidly securedtoth'eside sticks, said clamps conformed to afford grooved seats for I bothan: initial engagement of the cables to said side sticks and thefree endturned thereabout. i

5. The combinationwith a log, andv a cable, 'of means for: adjustablysecuring" looped leads of said cable passing about said log, said meanscomprising a block member having laterally spaced apart grooves disposedin the upper face thereof, cable containing apertures projecting throughouter end portions of said block in opposing inclinations andcommunicating at the inner extremities with one of said grooves, of acap piece having laterally spaced apart grooves cooperating with saidfirst named grooves in the underneath side thereon, said cap piece beingadapted to be adjustably bolted to said block member in a manner toengage cables longitudinally disposed in said grooves in a manner tocrimp the lead engaged by said apertures in providing cable retainingoffset portions to the same while allowing adjustability to the other ofsaid leads.

6. The combination with a log, and a cable, of means for adjustablysecuring looped leads of said cable passing about said log, said meanscomprising a block member and a cap piece arranged to be bolted/to saidblock member, said block member comprising cable receiving laterallyspaced-apart grooves and means cooperative with said grooves whereby oneof said leads may be securably retained while allowing adjustability tothe other.

7. The combination with a log, and a cable, of means for securing saidcable to the log, said means comprising a chair having pins projectinginto the log for securably retaining said chair to the log, said chairhaving means including recessesfor receiving the cable.

8. The combination with a log, and a cable, of means for securing saidcable to the log, said means comprising a chair rigidly secured to thelog and providing recesses for seating engagement of multiple turns ofthe cable thereon, and a cap piece engageable over said chair and havingmeans cooperative with said chair recesses for clampingthe cable rigidlytherein.

9. A cable clamp comprising a block memher having a pair of spaced-apartcable-receiving grooves, a cap member arranged for bolting engagement tosaid block member for clamping cable leads in respective grooves, andmeans cooperating with said bolt engagement between the two members forretaining both of said members with respect to one of the clamped leadswhile afiording release of the other.

Signed at Seattle; Washington, this 13th day of April 1929.

JOHN M. CHEVALIER.

